How To Successfully Prepare For Bowhunting

Before you go Bowhunting Prepare for Success

If you’re like me, you want to be successful on your next bowhunting trip. So here are a few tips, for before you go bowhunting.

Make sure your bow is in proper working condition.

First, use wax to ensure your string is nice and tight as well as lubricated.

Second, if you have a dual cam bow, make sure your cams are in sync with each other and that they are not out of tune?

Third, examine the function of your wrist strap? Does the Velcro make noise? Is it quiet and easy to pull your hand in and out?

Finally, if you have a peep sight with an alignment tube, check the condition of the tube? Is it flexible and sturdy, or is it brittle and ready to break?

No doubt, nothing can be more frustrating than having your alignment tube snap while bowhunting and losing that beautiful buck.

Make Sure you Have a Good Sight

First and foremost, be sure that you have a quality sight. In my opinion, when looking to purchase a sight, I recommend that you buy at least a 4-pin sight and set for 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. My reasoning for this is so that you will have at least one sight to practice further away shots and thereby improve your overall accuracy.

QUICKTIP: practicing long-range shots will build confidence for the in-range shots you will be taking while on a bow hunt, as well as, familiarize you with how your arrows fly. Long-range shooting is an effective way to show you how you’re doing up close.

Also, be sure to choose a sight that has lots of fiber optic material. The more material, the more light can be absorbed, and that makes your sight brighter and easier to see.

Another thing to consider is how hard it is to adjust your sight pins. A phrase that I learned was “easy to adjust, easy to un-adjust.” That said you want a sight that takes awhile to adjust — this will help when tracking around in the woods. Your sight won’t be accidentally bumped out of position and ruin your shot at getting a nice trophy set of antlers for your man cave!

Next, make sure you are on target, before bowhunting!

Practice taking weird shots, such as a kneeling shot for instance. Can you draw your bowstring while in the crouched position or is it a struggle? Being able to draw from any position is always an advantage when bowhunting. You never know when that curious buck will come moping around looking for a doe.

Another great exercise is to practice hitting your target from odd yardage. Unfortunately, not all animals will come within 20-yards exactly. Therefore, measure out distances like 21 yards, or 32 yards and practice hitting the target at those ranges — if you have a range finder this will be easy to do.

Knowing shot placement between the sight pins will be hugely beneficial to you when bowhunting.

Lastly, make sure you have enough of the right arrows before bowhunting

Not having enough ammunition is a terrible thing.

Consider the color of your fletching. In my opinion, white works well because it will show blood and provide a good indicator of whether you hit the desired target or not.

Also, staying away from greens can save you many arrows. Green is a hard color to see in the forest and can cause you to lose precious projectiles. By the same token, bright neon colors can help locate arrows after they have gone through the target or missed.

Next, there are the field points and broadheads. You’ll want to practice with your broadheads before using them for bowhunting. This can be an expensive process. Not only can broadheads slice off fletching’s when shooting close groups, but they can also wreck havoc on your practice targets.

One more thing to consider is using broadheads that fly like field points when you practice. As a consequence, the way you practice will be the same as when you hunt and help build confidence when it counts.

Stephen is an avid outdoorsman, bow hunter, and angler who loves all things manly and is passionate about being prepared to protect and provide for those he loves. He currently resides in Caldwell Idaho with his wife Amanda.

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